Kosovo Independence

False State in the middle of Serbia

Have you ever heard of one nation with two motherlands? Well, that's the case with Kosovo Albanians. Some Europeans on one French website asked - "if they don't like living in Serbia, why don't they simply leave Kosovo and go to their motherland Albania"? Well, the question is good but it's hard to find the answer. So-called Kosovars are people who live in Kosovo, and there are Serbs and Albanians, as well as some other nations. Why then Albanians have a right to have second Albanian state in Serbia, and Serbs don't have right to live in their own country?


By MARKO ANDREJIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


February 17 will be written down all around the world as a date when so-called Kosovo Parliament, temporary institution of south province of Serbia, which is under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 since 1999, proclaimed independence. Albanians in Kosovo were celebrated on that Sunday, and the same evening first protest were held in Belgrade and some other big Serbian cities.

Serbian officials have asked from international institutions the same day, first of all United Nations, not to recognize this "false state" and Security Council meeting was called but anything new could be heard. President Tadic, Prime Minister Kostunica and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeremic have explained that Kosovo is not a state - proclaiming independence of Serbian south province is an act of separatism!

Different reactions came from different parts of the world. So far, 28 countries recognized Kosovo as an independent state - just to compare, Palestina is recognized by 100 countries. United States of America, Afghanistan, Albania, Austria... said it is reality. But European Union could not make a consensus: Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus and Romania refused to accept new independent country. It is obviously connected with their own experience about separatism and terrorism. Russia also agreed Kosovo is not an independent state but the part of Serbia, as it was for years.

The same day European Union decided to send Eulex mission to Kosovo, although it's against UNSCR 1244 and it's not approved by many countries. KFOR is still in Kosovo trying to protect... well, whoever and whatever... If you want to see the results of their protection go to our next article about March Pogrom in 2004.

Serbian people were disappointed and some of them decided to protest in different ways. Spontaneous meeting was held on Sunday, just after proclaiming independence. But great and magnificient meeting is organized by Serbian politicians, government and parliament on Thursday, February 21, when about 300,000 Serbs from whole country came to Belgrade to express their opinion and feelings about Kosovo. After short speeches in front of Parliament building, people went to St.Sava Temple to pray all together for Kosovo and Serbs who still live there. Unfortunately, small groups of hooligans - some of them even didn't come for meeting - tried to attack U.S. embassy, marking United States as guilty for Kosovo independence. Building was burned and during riots later in the evening Croatian, Turkish and Slovenian embassy were attacked, too. Groups of people tried to use the moment and some of them are caught in stealing clothes, shoes or drink... Because of a very few of them, the magnificient meeting had not the same effect.

Chronology

Albanians in Kosovo started refusing all Serbian institutions in early 1980s - they founded their own school (out of every system), they did not vote in Serbian elections, they did not accept to register and be listed as citizens of Serbia, or earlier, Yugoslavia. They had their own leaders trying to separate much before any fight has been started, before Milosevic torture and any police or army actions, before the old big Yugoslavia started splitting with Slovenia and Croatia proclaiming independence in 1992. There was no reaction from international community when so-called KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army, officially internationally listed as terroristic organization) was founded and started killing innocent Serbian civilians and police forces doing their every day's job in Kosovo. Serbs had to move from the province and only the bravest have stayed there trying to protect their homes and property.

Albanian leaders from Kosovo have been officially listed as terrorists - Ramus Haradinaj is accused and has a trial in the Hague Tribunal right now. Hasim Tachi - better known by nickname "Snake", so-called Prime Minister of Kosovo could be seen many times with rifle, happy and smiling after massacres of Serbian children and old people. Agim Ceku was one of KLA commanders.

Serbia under NATO bombs

NATO and Havier Solana as its commander then, decided to bomb FR Yugoslavia in 1999 "to protect Kosovo Albanians from humanitarian catastrophy". Have you ever heard that someone saved your life by hiting bomb to your head? William Walker, former chief of OSCE mission in Kosovo wrote in his report that massacre in Racak was made by Serbian forces and that was the final reason to start with bombing. Later, much after NATO airplanes destroyed bridges, factories, hospitals and TV stations all around Serbia (all listed as official targets in fight against Milosevic regime), some documents during Hague trials, analysis and comments showed the report was not exactly the true. Maybe someone should turn back time now...

Bombing has not overthrown Milosevic but made Serbian people stronger and even forced nation to become united and support the leaders against someone trying to kill them. Next year, in October 2000, Milosevic has lost the power, not thankful to international community but to Serbian people who rised their votes against unfair elections and stealing votes by the Big Boss. Since 2000, Serbia has come back in all international institutions that was kicked out of because of Milosevic in 1990s. Democracy has came and so-far opposition parties started reforming country and tried to do everything that Serbia missed during dictator's rule. Is this the prize for democratic way in last 8 years?

Two motherlands

Have you ever heard of one nation with two motherlands? That's the case with Kosovo Albanians. Some Europeans on one French website asked - "if they don't like living in Serbia, why don't they simply leave Kosovo and go to their motherland Albania"? Well, the question is good but it's hard to find the answer. Kosovo Albanians use Albanian flag, why if they have independent state? - so they should have their own flag, anthem and all the symbols like any other country.

There is no Kosovo nation. So-called Kosovars are people who live in Kosovo, and there are Serbs and Albanians, as well as some other nations. Why then Albanians have a right to have second Albanian state in Serbia, and Serbs don't have right to live in their own country?

New Parliamentary elections

An important question was put in front of Serbian leaders. On one side - the way towards European integrations and European Union, where all the Serbians agree the country should get into. On the other side - defending its territory and proving that Kosovo is a part of Serbia and it will always be. Because of these misunderstandings and pressure the government of Serbia fallen down and the new Parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 11, together with local and province elections.

Longer period of instability could lead into stopping of foreign investments, bad effects for sport competitions or international culture relations. Situation in the region is also not the very promising because Albanians already remind of Great Albania, consisting of parts of Montenegro, Western Macedonia, Greece and south Serbia. Republika Srpska warned the Serbs there could call for referendum and independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Serbian diplomacy is still trying to fight against independence by explaining possible consequences of precedent like this. There are many separatist's movements in the world, is this a message for them to take weapons because that's the only way to get their own state?


(Published: 09.03.2008.)

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